Holy Guacamole.
This is amazing.
Mervyn O’Gorman (19871-1958) is probably most well-known for being one of Britian’s top enigeers, during WW1 was the head of the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. But few known that he was an early pioneer of colour photography, as well as an artist. Who knew?
The photographs below are his early colour photographs of his daughter Christina using the autochrome process in 1913. It was patented in 1903, and was the first full practical single-plate colour process accessible to the public.
The beach images are from Lulworth Cove, Dorset and feature her in a bright red swimming costume—a colour the early process captured well. Christina is also captured in red in every other scene, drawing the eye immediately to the subject and her long strawberry blonde hair. The up-close image of Christina has an oddly modern feel as her clothing is hard to pin to a singular time period. O’Gorman’s wife Florence and second daughter are featured in the last portrait, the photographer’s camera box seen just to the left of his family. I think it is so beautiful and amazing so surreal and dreamlike.
Happy Thursday to you all.
further readings:
wearethemuseumcollective 